Mobile device holder

ABSTRACT

Aspects and embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to sound-amplifying holders for portable electronic devices. In one example, there is provided a mobile portable electronic device holder comprising a body, a retention area defined on the body and configured to releasably retain a portable electronic device, and a waveguide formed within the body and configured to amplify sound emitted from a speaker of the portable electronic device.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/583,865, titled “MOBILE DEVICE HOLDER,” filed on Jan. 6, 2012, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

Aspects and embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to portable mobile electronic device holders, more specifically to holsters for smart phones or other electronic devices.

2. Discussion of Related Art

There are many types of portable electronic devices that are capable of playing music. Often, a user of a portable electronic device may listen to music stored on the portable electronic device through ear phones that are plugged into the portable electronic device. In some instances, a portable electronic device may include an integrated speaker through which music may be played so that a user can listen to the music without the use of earphones. Alternatively, a user may connect the portable electronic device to a docking station designed for the portable electronic device that plays music stored on the portable electronic device through external speakers. Docking stations for playing music from portable electronic devices are often heavy and unwieldy and are not designed to be portable or to be easily carried by a user while in operation.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobile portable electronic device holder. The mobile portable electronic device holder comprises a body, a retention area defined on the body and configured to releasably retain a portable electronic device, and a waveguide disposed within the body and configured to amplify sound emitted from a speaker of the portable electronic device.

In accordance with some embodiments, the mobile portable electronic device holder further comprises a port defined in the body in communication with a first end of the waveguide.

In accordance with some embodiments, the port is positioned proximate a location where the speaker of the portable electronic device is disposed upon mounting the portable electronic device within the mobile portable electronic device to holder.

In accordance with some embodiments, the retention area is configured to releasably retain a smartphone and to locate a speaker of the smartphone proximate a port formed in the body and configured to direct sound from the speaker of the smartphone into a first end of the waveguide.

In accordance with some embodiments, a second end of the waveguide terminates at an open end of the mobile portable electronic device holder.

In accordance with some embodiments the waveguide increases in cross sectional area from the first end to the second end.

In accordance with some embodiments, the mobile portable electronic device holder further comprises a belt clip coupled to the body.

In accordance with some embodiments, the belt clip is disposed on an opposite side of the body from the retention area.

In accordance with some embodiments, the retention area includes a lower retention cavity configured to releasably retain an end of the portable electronic device.

In accordance with some embodiments, the mobile portable electronic device holder further comprises a retaining tab positioned on an opposite side of the retention area from the lower retention cavity. The retaining tab is configured to be elastically displaced by the portable electronic device when mounted in the mobile portable electronic device holder and to facilitate retention of the portable electronic device in the mobile portable electronic device holder by the application of pressure to a side of the portable electronic device.

In accordance with some embodiments, the retention area includes at least one open side.

In accordance with some embodiments, the mobile portable electronic device holder is configured to amplify sound produced by the portable electronic device without the use of electricity.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobile portable electronic device holder. The mobile portable electronic device to holder comprises a substantially hollow body including an open upper end, a retention area defined on the body and configured to releasably retain a portable electronic device, and a port defined in the body, the port providing communication between the retention area and an interior of the body.

In accordance with some embodiments, a cross sectional area of the body increases from a lower portion of the body to the upper end of the body.

In accordance with some embodiments, the mobile portable electronic device holder further comprises a waveguide disposed within the body and configured to amplify sound emitted from a speaker of the portable electronic device.

In accordance with some embodiments, the port forms a first end of the waveguide and the open upper end of the body forms a second end of the waveguide.

In accordance with some embodiments, the waveguide is configured to amplify sound produced by the portable electronic device without the use of electricity.

In accordance with some embodiments, the retention area includes a retention cavity configured to releasably retain an end of the portable electronic device.

In accordance with some embodiments, the mobile portable electronic device holder further comprises a retaining tab positioned on an opposite side of the retention area from the retention cavity. The retaining tab is configured to be elastically displaced by the portable electronic device when mounted in the mobile portable electronic device holder and to facilitate retention of the portable electronic device in the mobile portable electronic device holder by the application of pressure to a side of the portable electronic device.

In accordance with some embodiments, the retaining tab is elastically coupled to one of the body and an upper wall of the retaining area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component to may be labeled in every drawing. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view from the front of a mobile portable electronic device holder in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention wherein internal and rear structures are indicated in dotted lines;

FIG. 2A is an elevational view from the side of the mobile portable electronic device holder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2B is an elevational view from the side of the mobile portable electronic device holder of FIG. 1 including a smartphone mounted thereon; and

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the mobile portable electronic device holder of FIG. 1 through the line 3-3 of FIG. 2A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.

Many portable electronic devices, for example, smart phones such as the Apple iPhone® have the ability to play music or other sounds internally recorded within the device or streamed from the internet. Sound produced by speakers of such portable electronic devices is often a low power output sound, and is limited by the size of the speaker and by the power of the device. Users of such portable electronic devices often must utilize headphones plugged into the portable electronic device to hear the sound from the device at a desirable volume and quality. External docking stations for the Apple iPhone® and other smartphones or portable electronic devices are available from numerous vendors. These docking stations, however, are usually to much larger than the portable electronic device and are often not easy to carry with the portable electronic device.

Aspects and embodiments of the present invention include a sound amplifier for a portable electronic device. For example, the amplifier may be used with a device such as a smart phone. Preferably, in accordance with several embodiments, the sound amplifier is small, easy to carry, is simple to operate, and does not require the use of electricity. The sound amplifier may comprise a mobile portable electronic device holder or “holster” having dimensions not significantly greater than a portable electronic device which may be mounted thereon. The sound amplifier may include a waveguide that amplifies sound generated by a speaker of a portable electronic device.

A mobile portable electronic device holder or holster in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated generally at 100 in FIGS. 1-3. The mobile portable electronic device holder 100 includes a body 110. In some embodiments the body 110 has a hollow portion that receives sound from a portable electronic device and amplifies the sound for a user. In some embodiments, the body has a substantially rectangular cross section in a plane perpendicular to a vertical axis thereof. In some embodiments the cross sectional area of the body increases from a lower portion or end of the body to an upper portion or end of the body.

A retention area 120 for a portable electronic device in formed on a front side of the body. A lower end of the retention area includes a lower retention cavity 130 configured to releasably retain an end of a portable electronic device. At the upper end of the retention area is a retaining tab 140. The retaining tab is elastically coupled to the body, for example, with a spring and may be disposed upward upon insertion of a portable electronic device 160 into the mobile portable electronic device holder. In some embodiments, the retaining tab is elastically coupled to an upper wall 150 of the retention area. The retaining tab exerts a downward force on a portable electronic device mounted in the mobile portable electronic device holder to facilitate retaining the portable electronic device therein. When a user wishes to remove the portable electronic device the user may grip the sides of the portable electronic device and pull it away from the retention area. The retaining tab may be pushed upward by the force of the user pulling on the portable electronic device, allowing the user to pull the portable electronic device away from the retention area 120 and out of the lower retention cavity 130.

In alternate embodiments, the retention cavity 130 and retaining tab 140 may be disposed in different positions, for example, the retention cavity 130 may be disposed on an upper portion of the body and the retaining tab 140 disposed on a lower portion of the body. In some embodiments, the retaining tab and retention cavity are disposed on side portions of the body. In further embodiments, the mobile portable electronic device holder includes a plurality of retaining tabs for releasably retaining a portable electronic device on the retention area. In some embodiments the mobile portable electronic device holder includes only a plurality of retaining tabs for releasably retaining a portable electronic device on the retention area and no retention cavity.

The retention area 120 may include one or more open sides or include open portions of one or more sidewalls to facilitate access to a side or sides of the portable electronic device for a user to, for example, access controls on a side of the portable electronic device or to grip the portable electronic device for insertion or removal from the mobile portable electronic device holder.

In some embodiments, the mobile portable electronic device holder includes a waveguide 170 disposed internal to the body. The waveguide includes a first narrow end 170A and a second wide end 170B. In some embodiments, the waveguide 170 increases in cross sectional area from the first narrow end 170A to the second wide end 170B. The wide end 170B of the waveguide may terminate at an open upper end 175 of the mobile portable electronic device holder. The waveguide functions as a horn to amplify sound. Sound may enter the first narrow end 170A of the waveguide 170 through a port 180 in communication with the first narrow end of the waveguide. In some embodiments the port is an aperture formed in the base of the lower retention cavity 130 proximate a position where a speaker of a portable electronic device mounted in the mobile portable electronic device holder would be positioned. In to some embodiments the port 180 forms the first narrow end 170A of the waveguide 170. In some embodiments the open upper end 175 of the mobile portable electronic device holder forms the wide end 170B of the waveguide 170.

In some embodiments, the mobile portable electronic device holder further includes a belt clip 190. The belt clip may be secured to the rear side of the body of the portable electronic device holder, for example, on an opposite side of the body from the retention area 120. The belt clip may provide for a user to clip the mobile portable electronic device holder to the user's belt or to a pocket or other location on a piece of clothing or other item, for example, a bookbag or purse to allow the user to enjoy hands-free use of the music playing features of the portable electronic device amplified by the mobile portable electronic device holder. In one embodiment, the mobile portable electronic device holder, when mounted, includes an amplifier horn disposed in a direction that permits the user to hear the amplified sound.

The mobile portable electronic device holder may be formed of any suitable material or materials, for example, one or more plastics or metals. In some embodiments, the body of the mobile portable electronic device holder is formed from injection molded plastic. In some embodiments, the mobile portable electronic device holder is formed as two pieces which are then joined at a seam 190 by any suitable method, for example, by an adhesive, by plastic welding, or by one or more clips or other fasteners. The belt clip may be formed separately from the body and joined to the body by any suitable method, for example, by an adhesive, by plastic welding, or by one or more clips or other fasteners.

Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment of this invention, it is to be appreciated various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A mobile portable electronic device holder comprising: a body; a retention area defined on the body and configured to releasably retain a portable electronic device; and a waveguide disposed within the body and configured to amplify sound emitted from a speaker of the portable electronic device.
 2. The mobile portable electronic device holder of claim 1, further comprising a to port defined in the body in communication with a first end of the waveguide.
 3. The mobile portable electronic device holder of claim 2, wherein the port is positioned proximate a location where the speaker of the portable electronic device is disposed upon mounting the portable electronic device within the mobile portable electronic device holder.
 4. The mobile portable electronic device holder of claim 2, wherein the retention area is configured to releasably retain a smartphone and to locate a speaker of the smartphone proximate a port formed in the body and is configured to direct sound from the speaker of the smartphone into the first end of the waveguide.
 5. The mobile portable electronic device holder of claim 2, wherein a second end of the waveguide terminates at an open end of the mobile portable electronic device holder.
 6. The mobile portable electronic device holder of claim 5, wherein the waveguide increases in cross sectional area from the first end to the second end.
 7. The mobile portable electronic device holder of claim 2, further comprising a belt clip coupled to the body.
 8. The mobile portable electronic device holder of claim 2, wherein the belt clip is disposed on an opposite side of the body from the retention area.
 9. The mobile portable electronic device holder of claim 2, wherein the retention area includes a lower retention cavity configured to releasably retain an end of the portable electronic device.
 10. The mobile portable electronic device holder of claim 9, further including a to retaining tab positioned on an opposite side of the retention area from the lower retention cavity, the retaining tab configured to be elastically displaced by the portable electronic device when mounted in the mobile portable electronic device holder and to facilitate retention of the portable electronic device in the mobile portable electronic device holder by the application of pressure to a side of the portable electronic device.
 11. The mobile portable electronic device holder of claim 1, wherein the retention area includes at least one open side.
 12. The mobile portable electronic device holder of claim 1, configured to amplify sound produced by the portable electronic device without the use of electricity.
 13. A mobile portable electronic device holder comprising: a substantially hollow body including an open upper end; a retention area defined on the body and configured to releasably retain a portable electronic device; and a port defined in the body, the port providing communication between the retention area and an interior of the body.
 14. The mobile portable electronic device holder of claim 13, wherein a cross sectional area of the body increases from a lower portion of the body to the upper end of the body.
 15. The mobile portable electronic device holder of claim 14, further comprising a waveguide disposed within the body and configured to amplify sound emitted from a speaker of the portable electronic device.
 16. The mobile portable electronic device holder of claim 15, wherein the port to forms a first end of the waveguide and the open upper end of the body forms a second end of the waveguide.
 17. The mobile portable electronic device holder of claim 16, wherein the waveguide is configured to amplify sound produced by the portable electronic device without the use of electricity.
 18. The mobile portable electronic device holder of claim 13, wherein the retention area includes a retention cavity configured to releasably retain an end of the portable electronic device.
 19. The mobile portable electronic device holder of claim 18, further including a retaining tab positioned on an opposite side of the retention area from the retention cavity, the retaining tab configured to be elastically displaced by the portable electronic device when mounted in the mobile portable electronic device holder and to facilitate retention of the portable electronic device in the mobile portable electronic device holder by the application of pressure to a side of the portable electronic device.
 20. The mobile portable electronic device holder of claim 19, wherein the retaining tab is elastically coupled to one of the body and an upper wall of the retaining area. 